Debt, Credit Facilities (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 38.0
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 250.0
All-in interest rate (in hundredths)	1.235%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 212.0
Facility Fees (in hundredths)	0.175%
Cleco Power [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 0.0
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	300.0
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	298.0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 2.0
Facility Fees (in hundredths)	0.10%
LIBOR [Member] | Cleco Corporation [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	1.075%
LIBOR [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	0.90%
ABR [Member] | Cleco Corporation [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	0.075%